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For Laughing Out Loud

There's nothing like a good laugh! We aim to please with this selection of recommended books for kids ages 0-9 that'll have you laughing out loud. Whether it's a giant pickle stuck in a roof or a writerly duck who tricks a farmer (again!), the unexpected situations and hilarious stories will bring you a smile.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

By: Judi Barrett

Illustrated by: Ron Barrett

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy

Age Level: 3-6

Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Residents of Chewandswallow were accustomed to their predictable weather which kept them in juice and mashed potatoes (and more) three times a day. That is, until the weather took a strange turn; foods falling not only got larger, but so did the portions! This outrageous tale was released as a film in September 2009.

Duck on a Bike

By: David Shannon

Illustrated by: David Shannon

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 3-6

Reading Level: Beginning Reader

When Duck decides to try riding a bike, the other farmanimals scoff at him – that is, until a group of kidsleave their bikes unattended. Expressiveillustrations use different perspectives to show theanimals gleefully riding the bikes around the barnyardin this imaginative and funny romp.

Giggle, Giggle, Quack

By: Doreen Cronin

Illustrated by: Betsy Lewin

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 3-6

Reading Level: Beginning Reader

When Farmer Brown leaves his brother in charge, hewarns Bob to keep an eye on the duck, because “he’s trouble.” Bob follows the farmer’s written instructions to the letter, but are they authentic? Astute readers willknow who’s really writing them from the animated,cartoon-like illustrations. The animals were firstintroduced in Click, Clack, Moo (Simon and Schuster,2000), another barnyard chuckler.

Knock, Knock! Who's There?

By: Tad Hills

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 0-3

Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Knock, Knock! "Who's There?" "Olive" "Olive Who?" "Olive you so much!" Only ten knock-knock jokes are in this gentle and pun-filled book, subtitled "My First Book of Knock-Knock Jokes." Sturdy and colorful and designed for preschoolers, the set up for each joke is on one page and the answer is beneath the flap on the other. Youngsters will soon be telling these jokes on their own.

Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick

By: Kevin Henkes

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 0-3

Reading Level: Pre-Reader

Sheila Rae taunts Louise with her peppermint stick, not wanting to share it, and uses her experience to trick her sibling. Louise eventually gets some of the candy, and Sheila Rae gets her comeuppance in a very satisfying ending. Children of all ages will see themselves in these characters, first introduced in Sheila Rae, the Brave (Greenwillow, 1987).

Shrek!

By: William Steig

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales

Age Level: 3-6

Reading Level: Beginning Reader

Ugly ogre parents make an even uglier ogre son named Shrek. Of course Shrek seeks (on the back of a donkey) and finds a bride — an ogress even uglier than he! Enjoy the rich language used in the now 20-years-old and still-funny picture book that inspired a movie adaptation.

The Know Nothings

By: Michelle Spirn, R.W. Alley

Illustrated by: R.W. Alley

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 6-9

Reading Level: Independent Reader

Morris, Doris, Boris and Norris can’t get much right – including eating a banana – but they do know how tolaugh at themselves (and get readers chuckling!). Infour short chapters, perfect for newly independentreaders, the four friends enjoy simple things in theirown silly way.

The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales

By: Jon Scieszka

Illustrated by: Lane Smith

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales and Folk Tales

Age Level: 6-9

Reading Level: Independent Reader

The incomparable author and illustrator team retells traditional tales such as the "Gingerbread Man" and the "Little Red Hen" in inventive and hilarious ways, sure to make readers familiar with the originals laugh out loud. Even the traditional format of the book is changed to suit the absurdity of the new versions, for a memorable reading experience.

There's a Wocket in My Pocket!

By: Dr. Seuss

Genre: Fiction, Poetry

Age Level: 0-3

Reading Level: Pre-Reader

What kind of house do you live in? In this classic beginner book from Dr. Seuss, the simple, bouncy rhymes show all kinds of strange creatures living in the different rooms of a house. Some are rather nice and some not at all. The amusing, silly tale will keep a youngster's attention to the very end.

Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day

By: Jamie Lee Curtis

Illustrated by: Laura Cornell

Genre: Fiction

Age Level: 3-6

Reading Level: Beginning Reader

This lighthearted approach to a young child’s changing feelings is told with a rhyming cadence and equally appealing, cartoon-like illustrations. The gentle levity of the style allows children andadults to put words to the feelings that they recognizein themselves.